Leesburg VA History. Historic Leesburg VA History.
Leesburg VA history. Historic Leesburg Virginia located in Loudoun County VA is steeped in history from colonial times, Revolutionary War, Civil War and present. Discover Historic Leesburg VA, relive its' rich history from past to present day!
History of Leesburg Virginia
The land for Leesburg was chosen in 1757 for
the Loudoun county courthouse and was approved in 1758. It was originally
called George Town, named after King George II, and was later renamed to
Leesburg. The person for whom the town was named was Thomas Lee, an
influential Virginia governor who died in office; not, as some would think,
Robert E. Lee or his great grand-uncle
Francis Lightfoot Lee, the person who
drafted the bill for the creation of Leesburg. In 1813, the bill for
township and incorporation was drafted and passed in 1813.
During the war of 1812 (1812-1815), Leesburg was made the temporary Capitol
of the United States when a vast majority of the Federal Archives, including
the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, were moved to Leesburg for
safekeeping. During the reconstruction of Washington, D.C., marble from
quarries just south of Leesburg was used.
President James Monroe had a house built south of Leesburg, known
as
Oak Hill Plantation, where he also drafted
the Monroe Doctrine in 1823.
Leesburg was in constant conflict during the civil war. Its first battle,
the
Battle of Balls Bluff, was a major
confederate victory, and the site would later become one of the smallest
national cemeteries. Possession of the town was in constant flux between the
confederate and union armies for the remainder of the war.
Colonel John Mosby used the town as a base of operation for his
raiders, for whom the Loudoun County High School's football team (the
Raiders) was named.